Secure breeding environments and appropriate good-health measures are key. Wild rats and mice (and other wildlife) are capable of sharing their creepy-crawlies with their domestic cousins. Furthermore, these domesticated rats and mice will share them with other animals at their intended destinations and then, ultimately, with you!

Oxyuriasis - Syphacia muris (pinworms):
     Rat is natural host.
     Transmission fecal-oral, self-cleaning.

Oxyuriasis - Syphacia obvelata (pinworms):
     Mouse, hamster, gerbil is natural host.
     Can affect rats (when housed in same room).
     Transmission fecal-oral, self-cleaning.

Oxyuriasis - Aspiculuris tetraptera (pinworms):
     Mouse, rat (?) is natural host.
     Transmission fecal-oral.

Acariasis - Radfordia ensifera (fur mites):
     Rat is natural host.
     Transmission eggs (results in barbering, secondary skin infections, ulcers).

Acariasis - Radfordia affinis (fur mites):
     Mouse is natural host.
     Transmission eggs (results in barbering, secondary skin infections, ulcers).

Pneumocystosis - Pneumocystis carinii:
     Mammal is natural host.
     Transmission inhalation of spores (it’s a fungus).

Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ringworm):
     Wild rat is natural host.
     Can affect rats, mice, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, humans.
     Transmission direct contact.

Hymenolepis nana (tapeworm):
     Wild mouse is natural host.
     Can affect mice, humans.
     Transmission fecal-oral(?).